somerville dog: a weblog

The City of Cambridge website has an announcement from the Animal Commission about two separate incidents in which dogs were attacked by rabid wild animals--in one case, by a rabid raccoon and, in the other, by a rabid skunk. One attack occurred at the Fresh Pond Recreation Area, a popular off-leash destination, and the other in the Lake View Avenue area nearby.

Oct 25, 2004

Animal Commission Advises Caution Regarding Area Wildlife Following Two Attacks on Dogs

The Cambridge Animal Commission report [sic] two separate incidents in the past few weeks in which a rabid raccoon and a rabid skunk attacked two dogs, one occurring at Fresh Pond and the other in the Lakeview Avenue area.

The Commission urges residents to exercise caution and offers the following tips to minimize the risk of encounters with area wildlife, including raccoons, skunks and opossums.

• Make sure your pets are current on their rabies vaccination. All dogs and cats over the age of 6 months are required to be vaccinated against rabies. The recommendation for an unvaccinated animal that encounters a confirmed rabid animal would be humane euthanasia.
• Keep garbage cans securely closed and clean up trash spills quickly. To further discourage animals from entering your trash can, add a rag soaked with ammonia to the garbage with each new load of trash; tie old stockings filled with mothballs or flakes to the handles of the garbage can; or sprinkle the contents of the can with cayenne pepper.
• Secure your home or apartment by capping chimneys, checking vents, gables and eaves and pruning tree branches that overhang your roof.
• Never feed your pet outdoors. Never feed wildlife.
• Do not allow pets to wander loose. There is a citywide leash law for dogs, and the Animal Control office also recommends that all cats be kept indoors.
• Teach your children not to approach stray or wild animals, including baby animals.
• If you see a normally nocturnal animal, such as a raccoon, out during the day and behaving abnormally by moving slowly or exhibiting obvious signs of illness, call the Animal Control office at 617-349-4376.

If you suspect rabies in Somerville, please call the Animal Control Department, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., at 617-625-6600, ext.2190. After hours please dial 9-1-1.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that dogs, cats, and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies. Dogs and cats must be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian against rabies by the age of six months or, if the owner acquires the animal when it is over six months of age, within 30 days of acquisition, unless proof of previous vaccination is available. Furthermore, all dogs and cats shall receive booster vaccinations at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer of the vaccine. Detailed Rabies Information for residents of the Commonwealth is available from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.

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